t sight under any conditions, and am ashamed to
confess that for the moment I failed to do so."

"It is not at all to be wondered at, Mr. Christie," answered Donald,
grasping the other's extended hand, "and as I have already forgotten
the incident, I can find nothing to forgive."

"And will you allow me, as a great favor, to accompany you on this
return trip so far as our ways lie together?"

"Gladly, though I warn you that I shall travel fast and hard."

"I will risk it," laughed Christie, "and to a novice in woodcraft like
myself I know that such companionship as yours will prove invaluable."

"Well, hang it all, Christie! If you are going, I don't see why I
shouldn't go too," sputtered Bullen, and while Donald would gladly have
dispensed with the paymaster's company, he could not well frame an
excuse for so doing.

CHAPTER XIII

PAYMASTER BULLEN AND HIS WONDERFUL TUB

Though Donald had not the art to rid himself of an undesirable
travelling-companion, Fate, in the shape of a tin bath-tub, interposed
in his behalf. This tub was the little paymaster's pride and delight,
for in a measure it was his own invention. Having had it constructed
in England especially for use in America, he had become so enamored of
it that by this time he would sooner have parted with any other
possession. It was a round affair, about three feet in diameter, had a
high back, was painted green on the outside and white within. Here its
resemblance to ordinary bath-tubs ended, and its individuality became
apparent. To begin with, it was built with double sides about three
inches apart, and the space thus formed was divided by metallic
partitions into many compartments, of different sizes, all of which
were provided with close-fitting, water-tight lids. These could only
be opened by the pressing of a cleverly concealed spring. Not only did
this hollow and cellular construction give great buoyancy to the tub,
adapting it for use as a life preserver, but the compartments afforded
safe storage room for a number of toilet articles, such as are
generally difficult to obtain in the wilderness. For the present trip,
the paymaster had laid in a liberal supply of scented soap, tooth
powder, perfumery, pomades, cosmetics, brushes, shaving-utensils, and
innumerable other adjuncts of a dandy's dressing-table; for in spite of
his tendency toward stoutness and his uncertain age, Paymaster Bullen
was emphatically a dandy, with an ambition